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Borax is generally sodium tetraborate decahydrate, a mineral salt. Mineral origin does not make it harmless: borax powder can irritate the eyes and airways, and swallowing borates can cause illness. Use it as a household chemical—avoid dust, ingestion, skin use, food contact, and access by children or pets.
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Before you use borax
- Wear gloves when handling the powder or concentrated solutions, and work with good ventilation.
- Pour gently so you do not create airborne dust.
- Keep the original container and all diluted solutions away from children, pets, food, and animal bedding.
- Never use household borax on skin, hair, eyes, wounds, teeth, in baths, as medicine, or as a dietary supplement.
- Do not mix it casually with bleach, ammonia, toilet-bowl cleaner, drain cleaner, disinfectant, hydrogen peroxide, or another unlabeled cleaning product.
- Spot-test fabrics and surfaces first, dissolve it fully when a solution is called for, and rinse food-contact surfaces thoroughly.
The manufacturer’s safety information and the package directions take priority if they differ from a general household recipe.
What borax is—and what it is not
Borax is an alkaline borate compound used as a laundry builder and household cleaning ingredient. In a wash, it can help detergent perform more effectively, especially when hard-water minerals interfere with cleaning. It may also help loosen some soils, reduce odors, and remove certain mineral deposits.
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- Naturally softens hard water
- Improves cleaning power of detergent
- Safe for both standard and high efficiency machines
- Brightens and deodorizes clothes, bathrooms, kitchens, and more
- Helping you clean for over 100 years
It does not work like every other white powder or cleaning product in the cupboard:
| Product | What it mainly does | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Borax | Provides alkalinity and can boost laundry detergent or clean compatible washable surfaces. | It is a cleaner or laundry booster, not a food ingredient, medicine, disinfectant, or universal pesticide. |
| Boric acid | A related borate used in some registered insecticides and other specialized products. | Boric acid and borax are not interchangeable household products. Never use a pesticide or concentrated borate product on the body. |
| Baking soda | A milder alkaline deodorizer and gentle abrasive. | It is not the same chemical as borax and is not a substitute for a laundry detergent. |
| Washing soda | A stronger alkaline laundry builder. | It is not borax; use each only as directed in a tested recipe or product label. |
| Chlorine bleach | An oxidizing product used for specific whitening and disinfecting jobs. | Borax is not a bleach equivalent and should not be combined with bleach. |
| Detergent | A formulated cleaner containing surfactants and, depending on the product, enzymes or other cleaning ingredients. | Borax generally supplements detergent rather than replacing it. |
“Natural” can describe borax’s mineral origin, but it should not be treated as a synonym for nontoxic or safe around children and pets. The EPA’s Safer Choice guidance discusses the limitations of homemade cleaners and the need to consider chemical hazards rather than relying on natural-product claims.
How to mix and use borax safely
The safest rule is to use borax by itself unless the product directions or a specific manufacturer recipe calls for another ingredient. Borax can be used with normal laundry detergent, and the laundry-stripping recipe below specifically calls for washing soda and powdered detergent. That does not make improvised combinations safe or effective.
Do not add borax to bleach, ammonia, toilet-bowl cleaner, drain cleaner, disinfectant, hydrogen peroxide, or another cleaner. Household products can produce irritating or dangerous vapors when mixed. In particular, CDC bleach guidance warns against mixing bleach with other cleaners, while EPA guidance explains why household cleaning chemicals should not be combined casually.
Label every diluted solution with its contents and date. Never put it in a food or drink container. Do not pour powder or concentrated solution outdoors, onto plants, into a storm drain, or into a garden. For leftover product, follow the package disposal directions and local household-hazardous-waste or wastewater rules. A product-specific claim such as septic-safe should not automatically be generalized to every borate product or septic system.
15 ways to use borax around the home
1. Boost a normal laundry load
Best for: Ordinary laundry, particularly where hard water or heavy soil makes detergent less effective.
- Add ½ cup of borax directly to the washing-machine drum.
- Add your normal laundry detergent.
- Wash according to the garment-care label and the machine instructions.
This is a booster, not a detergent replacement. The amount comes from the 20 Mule Team laundry directions, but load size, fabric, water hardness, machine type, and product formulation vary. For a high-efficiency washer, use the machine manufacturer’s instructions and an HE detergent as the default. If you see white residue, reduce or stop the borax, dissolve it first if the directions permit, avoid overloading, and run an extra rinse.
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2. Pre-soak heavily stained washable clothing
Best for: Some grease, grass, dirt, blood, and tomato-sauce stains on durable, washable garments.
- Rinse the garment.
- Dissolve ½ cup borax per gallon of warm water.
- Submerge the item for at least two hours.
- Wash it normally.
- Inspect the stain before putting the garment in the dryer.
These are the manufacturer’s pre-soak directions. Test a hidden area first on colored fabric, and do not use an extended alkaline soak on wool, silk, leather, or garments whose care label prohibits it. Borax is not a universal treatment for rust, ink, dye transfer, oil, protein, or set-in stains; those may need a product formulated for the specific stain.
3. Spot-treat a small laundry stain
For a single garment, the manufacturer suggests mixing 1 tablespoon of borax with 2 tablespoons of water. Apply the paste to the stain, leave it for 30 minutes, rinse, and launder normally.
Use gloves or a dedicated spoon, keep the treated item away from children and pets, and do not let the paste dry on a delicate or colored fabric. Check the stain before drying; heat can set some stains. If the spot remains, repeat a fabric-appropriate treatment rather than repeatedly applying stronger borax mixtures.
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4. Strip buildup from durable towels and linens—occasionally
Laundry stripping is an occasional extended soak for durable towels, bath mats, dish rags, and similar items. It can loosen accumulated detergent, fabric-softener residue, hard-water minerals, soil, grease, and some loosened dye. It is not routine laundry care.
The manufacturer’s formula is given per gallon of warm water:
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- Naturally softens hard water
- Improves cleaning power of detergent
- Safe for both standard and high efficiency machines
- Brightens and deodorizes clothes, bathrooms, kitchens, and more
- Helping you clean for over 100 years
- ½ cup borax
- ½ cup washing soda
- ¾ cup powdered laundry detergent
Soak for five to six hours, stirring about once an hour, then wash normally. Do not use this method on wool, silk, leather, delicate dyes, or items that cannot tolerate prolonged soaking. Repeated high-alkaline soaking can shorten fabric life. Dark soak water is not proof that “toxins” were hiding in the fabric; it may contain released dye, soil, grease, detergent, and residue. In most homes, correct detergent dosing and an adequate rinse are a better default. See the full laundry-stripping directions.
5. Make a traditional homemade laundry-soap mixture—with caution
The 20 Mule Team recipe combines one box of borax, one box of washing soda, and one bar of grated soap, with optional scent crystals. Its directions say to use 2 tablespoons per medium load; see the full recipe for the brand’s preparation instructions.
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This is not automatically better, cheaper, safer, or more effective than modern detergent. Soap-based mixtures can leave residue, especially in low-water HE machines, and may not provide the enzymes or other ingredients needed for particular soils. EPA notes that homemade cleaners generally do not perform as well as specially formulated commercial products. A commercial HE detergent remains the lower-risk default for a modern washer unless its manufacturer permits a DIY mixture.
6. Make a general cleaner for compatible washable hard surfaces
For some washable countertops, vinyl, tile, appliances, and painted surfaces, the manufacturer suggests dissolving just under ¼ cup of borax in 16 ounces of warm water. Transfer the completely dissolved solution to a clean spray bottle that has never held another chemical, label it, and keep it secured. The manufacturer’s all-purpose directions provide the formula.
Spot-test first on natural stone, wood finishes, aluminum, laminate, delicate paint, and dark or porous surfaces. Wipe away residue. Rinse food-preparation surfaces thoroughly, and do not use this formula as a hand-washing dish soap.
Most importantly, call this cleaning—not disinfecting. A borax solution may remove soil and deodorize, but it is not automatically a validated germ-killing product. For disinfection, use an appropriate EPA-registered product according to its label.
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For tubs, tile, shower surfaces, or grout that can tolerate it, put a small amount of borax on a damp sponge, scrub gently, and rinse thoroughly. Borax can work as a mild abrasive or diluted alkaline cleaner. The consumer product directions include bathroom cleaning and deodorizing for shower, tub, and tile surfaces.
Use a soft sponge on glossy finishes because dry powder can dull or scratch some materials. Do not interpret a cleaner-looking surface as proof that all mold has been removed. Recurring mildew usually means there is excess moisture, inadequate ventilation, a leak, or contaminated porous material that needs attention.
8. Remove a stubborn stain from a sink
A current Martha Stewart method combines 1 cup of borax with ¼ cup of lemon juice to form a paste. Apply it briefly, scrub gently, and rinse. See the published sink method.
Start with dissolved borax and a soft sponge before using an abrasive paste. Test first on natural stone, polished metal, colored grout, and delicate finishes. Lemon juice is not required for every sink and should not be treated as a universal performance enhancer; do not add bleach or another cleaner to the paste.
9. Clean a toilet bowl
- Sprinkle approximately ¼ cup of borax into the bowl.
- Brush the bowl thoroughly.
- Let it sit briefly, then brush again.
- Flush.
This borax-only approach is easier to control than recipes that add vinegar or other cleaners. Never combine borax in the bowl with bleach, ammonia, toilet-bowl cleaner, disinfectant, or drain cleaner. Borax can clean soil and some residue, but it is not a substitute for an EPA-registered disinfectant when disinfection is actually required.
10. Reduce dishwasher mineral spots—only if the manual allows it
For existing mineral buildup, the manufacturer suggests scrubbing with 2 teaspoons of borax in 4 cups of warm water. It then suggests putting ¼ cup of borax in the bottom of the dishwasher, adding dishwasher detergent, and running a normal cycle. The method is intended for calcium and magnesium deposits associated with hard water; see the manufacturer’s dishwasher directions.
Do not treat that advice as a universal appliance recommendation or warranty. Check your dishwasher manual first because manufacturers differ on additives. Before trying borax, use the correct detergent amount, clean the filter and spray arms, adjust rinse aid and water-hardness settings, and consider a manufacturer-approved dishwasher cleaner. Never use borax as hand-washing dish soap, and rinse any surface that could contact food.
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11. Treat a fresh carpet spill
The official carpet method is:
- Blot immediately; do not rub.
- Mist lightly with cold water.
- Sprinkle borax over the spill without creating a dust cloud.
- Cover it with a damp rag.
- Press or work gently with the back of a spoon.
- Blot repeatedly until transfer stops.
The method may help with some fresh coffee, wine, juice, and similar spills, but carpet fiber, dye, backing, and the spilled substance all affect the result. Follow the manufacturer’s carpet directions and test an inconspicuous area first. If liquid reaches the backing, repeated wetting can create odor or browning; use an appropriate extraction method instead.
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For a limited, dry odor-control treatment, combine equal parts borax and baking soda, apply a light layer, leave it for at least 30 minutes, and vacuum thoroughly. This is a deodorizing treatment, not a way to remove the source of urine, mold, smoke, sewage, or water damage.
Keep children and pets out of the room while powder is present. Avoid shaking it into the air, do not use it if the carpet manufacturer prohibits powders, and vacuum carefully along edges and under furniture. If a pet-urine odor is involved, an enzyme cleaner is usually the better first choice.
13. Freshen smelly shoes
Dissolve 2 tablespoons of borax in about 1 liter of warm water. Spray lightly inside the shoes, let the solution sit for 15 to 20 minutes, then wipe or scrub away residue and let the shoes dry completely. These are the manufacturer’s shoe-odor directions.
Do not saturate leather, suede, glued footwear, or any shoe that cannot dry quickly. Test first, keep the shoes away from children and pets while damp, and do not wear them while they contain wet solution or visible powder. Washing removable insoles, ventilating footwear, and using a product labeled for shoes may be better for delicate materials.
14. Treat residual pet-urine odor after cleaning the urine
Borax should not be used to soak up fresh urine and must never be applied to the animal. First remove the urine with an enzyme-based pet-urine cleaner, following that product’s directions. Borax can be considered a secondary odor-control treatment after the source has been cleaned.
The manufacturer provides separate directions for carpet and upholstery, including a contact time of approximately 30 to 45 minutes, followed by blotting, rinsing, and thorough drying. Because upholstery fibers, carpet backing, and dyes vary, use the appropriate manufacturer formula for the material rather than transferring a carpet recipe to upholstery.
Keep children and pets away during application. Remove residue completely before the area is accessible, and do not treat pet bedding or floors where an animal can immediately lick the surface.
15. Reduce mildew odor while correcting the moisture problem
Borax may help clean a washable item or reduce a musty odor when used according to the manufacturer’s mildew-odor directions. There is no single safe borax ratio for every wall, textile, floor, or finish, so do not transfer a laundry or carpet recipe to building materials.
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What about ants and roaches?
Borates are used in some insect baits, and a slow-acting bait can sometimes be carried back to a colony. That does not make a box of laundry borax interchangeable with a pesticide. Concentration, bait formulation, placement, exposure controls, target pest, and legal labeling all matter.
For ants or roaches, the safer recommendation is an enclosed commercial bait labeled for that pest and bearing an EPA registration number. Follow its placement and disposal instructions exactly, keep it away from children, pets, food, and food-preparation areas, and remove competing food and water sources. The EPA explains how pesticide labels work, and EPA states that pesticides generally must be registered before being sold or distributed in the United States.
Do not broadcast-sprinkle laundry borax around the house, garden, or vegetable bed. Excess boron can harm plants and accumulate in soil. Do not assume borax is an appropriate treatment for termites, bedbugs, fleas, or garden pests. For a significant infestation, use integrated pest management or a licensed pest professional. Never use homemade bait where a child or animal can reach it.
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Bonus: borax craft projects
Crystal decorations
For a supervised craft, dissolve approximately 3 to 4 tablespoons of borax per cup of boiling water. Suspend a pipe-cleaner shape in the solution and leave it for 12 to 24 hours. The manufacturer’s crystal instructions should be followed closely. Children need direct adult supervision, must not taste the solution or crystals, and should wash their hands afterward.
Preserve flowers
Use a 1:2 ratio of borax to cornmeal in a sealed container and allow approximately 10 to 14 days for drying. The method is best suited to relatively thin-petaled flowers; see the flower-preservation directions. Keep the container and finished flowers away from children, pets, food, and moisture.
Make frosted pine cones
Dissolve borax in hot water, suspend a pine cone in the solution, and leave it overnight or for several hours so crystals can form. Finished decorations should not be placed where children or pets may chew them. The pine-cone craft instructions provide the preparation details.
When not to use borax
- On the body: Never use household borax on skin, hair, eyes, wounds, teeth, or in bath water. It is not a medical or anti-inflammatory treatment.
- In or near food: Do not ingest it, use it as a food preservative, or clean food without a thorough rinse. Do not use it as a dietary supplement.
- Directly on pets: Do not apply borax to an animal, its fur, skin, bedding, or a surface the animal can lick unless a veterinarian and product label specifically direct a suitable product.
- For disinfection: Use an EPA-registered disinfectant with the required claim and contact time. Cleaning and deodorizing are not the same as disinfecting.
- For extensive mold: Correct moisture, remove damaged porous material when appropriate, and follow professional remediation guidance.
- On delicate or unknown materials: Avoid untested use on wool, silk, leather, suede, natural stone, unfinished wood, delicate paint, aluminum, and colorfastness-sensitive fabrics.
- As an unlabeled pesticide: Use a registered bait or another product labeled for the target pest instead of scattering laundry borax.
- As a whole-house water softener: Borax can act as a laundry builder or water-conditioning ingredient; it does not regenerate an ion-exchange water softener or permanently remove minerals from plumbing.
Choose the alternative that matches the job
| If you need to… | Usually choose… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Wash clothes in an HE machine | Commercial HE detergent | It is formulated for low-water machines and is the lower-risk default. Borax can be an optional booster only if compatible with the machine and product directions. |
| Brighten washable laundry | Oxygen bleach labeled for the fabric | It is formulated for oxygen-based brightening. Follow the garment and product directions; it is not the same as chlorine bleach. |
| Remove pet urine | Enzyme cleaner labeled for pet urine | It is designed to break down organic odor sources instead of merely masking them. |
| Disinfect a surface | EPA-registered disinfectant | Use the label’s approved surface, dilution, and contact time. |
| Clean natural stone | Stone-safe neutral cleaner | Alkaline or abrasive powders can dull or damage some stone finishes. |
| Remove rust | A rust remover labeled for the specific surface | Borax is not a dependable rust treatment and may not address the chemistry of the stain. |
| Control a serious pest infestation | Registered bait, integrated pest management, or licensed pest control | Target-specific labels provide tested placement and exposure instructions. |
| Remediate substantial mold or water damage | Moisture correction and qualified remediation | The source and contaminated material—not just the cleaning powder—must be addressed. |
If something goes wrong
White residue appears on clothing
Too much powder, incomplete dissolution, a low-water cycle, hard water, or an overloaded machine may be responsible. Rewash with the correct detergent amount and use an extra rinse. Reduce or discontinue borax if residue persists.
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Vacuum thoroughly. If the material is compatible with wet extraction, blot with clean water and extract according to the carpet manufacturer’s instructions. Stop using borax on that carpet if discoloration or stiffness remains.
The odor comes back
Borax may have reduced the smell without removing its source. Look for urine below the surface, moisture intrusion, mildew, smoke, or another organic contaminant. Use an enzyme cleaner for urine and address leaks, condensation, and ventilation for mildew odors.
Borax will not dissolve
Use warm water, stir thoroughly, and do not overconcentrate the solution. Do not spread undissolved granules onto delicate fabric or surfaces.
Bait is ignored
The pest may not be attracted to that bait, competing food may be available, or the infestation may be elsewhere. Switch to a registered bait labeled for the target pest, remove competing food and water, seal entry points, and avoid spraying repellent insecticide beside the bait.
You accidentally mix cleaners or have an exposure
Stop using the mixture, move away from fumes to fresh air, and do not try to neutralize it with another chemical. For eye exposure, flush with running water for at least 15 minutes. Wash exposed skin thoroughly with soap and water. If borax is swallowed, do not induce vomiting; call Poison Control or emergency services. In the United States, Poison Control is available at 1-800-222-1222. For breathing difficulty, severe symptoms, or a significant exposure, seek emergency medical help. The Poison Control borate guidance and the product label provide the appropriate first-aid instructions.
Further reading and product directions
- 20 Mule Team household uses
- 20 Mule Team safety information
- Poison Control: borates and poisoning
- ATSDR: boron toxicology information
- CDC: cleaning and disinfecting with bleach
- EPA: pesticide registration
Frequently Asked Questions
Is borax the same as boric acid?
No. They are related borate compounds, but they are different products and are not interchangeable. Boric acid is used in some registered pesticides and specialized products; household borax should not be used on the body or repurposed as a pesticide.
Can I use borax around pets?
Keep borax powder, solutions, treated carpets, crafts, and bait inaccessible to pets. Never apply household borax directly to an animal, its fur, skin, bedding, or a surface it can lick. Use an enzyme pet-urine product or veterinarian-approved treatment when appropriate.
Does borax disinfect or kill mold?
Do not rely on ordinary borax as a disinfectant or claim that it kills all mold. It may clean soil, mildew residue, or odor on compatible washable materials, but disinfection requires an appropriate EPA-registered product and extensive mold requires moisture correction and remediation.
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Can I mix borax with vinegar or bleach?
Do not improvise mixtures. Some lifestyle recipes combine borax with lemon juice or vinegar, but those ingredients are not necessary for most jobs. Never combine borax with bleach, ammonia, toilet-bowl cleaner, drain cleaner, disinfectants, hydrogen peroxide, or other unlabeled cleaners.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Borax is a useful, inexpensive household chemical when used for a defined job: boosting detergent, pre-soaking durable laundry, cleaning compatible washable surfaces, or controlling an odor after its source has been addressed. Measure it, avoid dust and exposure, follow the product and appliance directions, and choose a specialized cleaner, registered pesticide, enzyme product, or professional remediation when the problem calls for one.
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